Interview with: Jamil Quarless, Lab Tech at Stream Bioenergy and former Energy Garden Youth Trainee
Less than a year ago, in May, Energy Garden began recruiting for the 2021 Youth Training Programme. We accepted 10 young people onto the programme, which was funded by Pioneer Point Partners. A new addition to the programme is a focus on getting people into employment in the sustainability sector. We are proud to share one of our most recent success stories. We are now accepting expressions of interest for the 2022 programme. Please read the prospectus here and email info@energygarden.org.uk if you think yourself or someone you know would be a good fit.
Last month, we had the chance to catch up with one of the 2021 Youth Training graduates that went on to full-time employment in the sustainability sector: Jamil Quarless.
Jamil came to the Energy Garden youth training programme with a BSc. in Biological Science. Jamil and his fellow Energy Garden trainees graduated in August 2021, having completed modules on cooperative finance, renewable energy, urban greening, and fuel poverty awareness. Along the way, they built and installed solar panels and back up battery storage at Hampstead Heath Station; they carried out surveys of commuters at Finchley Central Station; and they visited the Houses of Parliament and met with the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey.
Fast-forward to February 2022, and we are speaking to Jamil from his new home in Belfast, where he moved to take a job as a lab technician at a bioenergy company. The organisation, called Stream BioEnergy Limited (Stream, for short), ‘develops and operates biogas projects that use anaerobic digestion technology to produce biogas, which can be used in a number of ways.’ Their plant in Northern Ireland processes 40,000 tonnes per annum of chicken litter, and in doing so produces 3MW of renewable electricity, enough to power 6,000 homes.
I start by asking how’s Belfast, what’s it like? ‘Belfast is a little less busy than London but has a great atmosphere and people.’ What do you miss? ‘I guess not much at the moment, it’s a bit too early to tell.’ He smiles... Since arriving in January, Jamil has immersed himself in the world of anaerobic digestion (AD). This process is gaining traction due to its merits in sustainably processing waste, avoiding carbon emissions, and producing renewable energy to power homes.
‘[It’s been] interesting learning about a whole new industry within alternative energy. There are many applications further afield, especially in these times when we’re trying to ease off fossil fuels. The plant is creating biogas, mostly methane at the moment, to drive generators to produce electricity and potentially, in the future, one of the hopes is to utilise the biogas for vehicle use.’
While there’s no doubt it’s been a great learning experience, I wondered if it was always a goal of Jamil’s to work in the bioenergy sector. While AD wasn’t a specific goal, he says he told himself: ‘You know what, it’s a good experience, I can’t really go wrong with trying something new, especially in a growing field.’ That attitude paid off: he now finds himself in at the ground floor with a company that has massive plans for expansion. The current team is small, but this is set to grow thanks to investment by Pioneer Point Partners.
From the Pioneer Point Partners website: ‘The Fund is committing €60 million to Stream BioEnergy Limited (“Stream”), a leading developer and operator of Anaerobic Digestion (“AD”) plants in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland…Pioneer is backing Stream to create Ireland’s leading biogas company.’
Jamil describes his day-to-day work as, ‘analysing the bioreactors for efficiency and effectiveness and determining how these processes can be improved.’ He was eased into the role, with adept colleagues by his side to answer questions. But for the most part now, he’s on his own.
I asked what were his most memorable moments from the Youth Training Programme: ‘Creating the spaces for the flower beds in Crouch Hill was a memorable experience. He continues: ‘…being able to do the practical alongside the theory helped to demonstrate these concepts.’ And the camaraderie was another bonus: ‘everyone on the course was great, super interested in the future of renewables and community spaces. It was interesting learning from one another as well as from the Energy Garden team.’
For now, the future is in his hands: crucially, he has the security of a full-time role. ‘Even at the interview stage, they were speaking about expansions and how I could be involved in the future of the plant. It’s good to know that at least I have a future within the company, and I can make a decision on my future.’ As a parting question, I ask him to describe AD in one sentence: ‘It’s like a big digestive system.’ He goes on: ‘It chumps, churns and breaks down matter to produce energy, in this case biogas.’
Jamil Quarless Statement:
“The intersectional nature of this field is one I strongly relate to and feel will be quintessential in mitigating inequity and driving future reforms. The manner in which Energy Garden is confronting this issue resonates with what I wish to do. I can see how a local community-led cooperative environment can both expediate and effectively tackle inequality as well as see its potential in providing prosperity globally.
About the Energy Garden Youth Training Programme:
The Energy Garden Youth Training Programme is AQA-accredited and paid at London Living Wage (£11.05). Young people between the ages of 18-24 are invited to gain valuable experience in cooperative business practices, environmental technology, communications, and community development which allows them to take their careers forward We are now recruiting for the 2022 cohort. Can you help us find the next Energy Garden Allstar? Please write to info@energygarden.org.uk to express your interest and we will send you an application. Read about the programme in full at this link.